Preparing Your Garden for the Cold

Guest post written by Sally Keys.

Preparing Your Garden For The Cold

With winter rolling around, the plants in your garden can be in for a tough time. Take for example the hebe, which dies in cold after too-fast growth in heat. Whilst some plants are ready and waiting for the effects of winter, others aren’t so well prepared, especially when brought in from other climates.

The Virginia climate is a little more welcoming for plants, but in certain counties the cold will still bite. The potential to grow flowers for seasonal products is certainly there, however. The good news is that the seasons are fairly predictable and you’ll be able to get prepared for the change in temperatures.

Removing Debris

If a wet winter is in store, or a dry and cold one, debris can be an issue. The build of leaves, loose moss and other organic products will starve oxygen and plants of soil. This is a fairly simple thing to remedy – using a shovel to keep your areas tidy will suffice for moss. You could also employ the use of a leaf blower which will typically be powerful enough to get rid of detritus heavier than just leaves.

Move Plants Inside

When it comes to plants that aren’t firmly rooted to the soil of your beds and pots, you have the option of moving them inside. Make sure the pots you have for your plants are big enough for keeping them alive, if not growing – as maintaining size is the idea here. If there are excess leaves, dead roots or organic soil, keep them to one side. The key here is to leave plenty of time and plan properly. Use modern technology to preempt weather and set aside time for replanting.

Compost

With all of the organic matter you’ve collected, it would be a good idea to invest in a composter. Using one of these, you can prepare mulch for the seasons to come, too, meaning your garden and house waste has a long-term sustainability.

Compost will also have the side effect of providing a heat source for your garden. The microbes, worms and other bugs break down organic matter and create heat. For those plants that you can’t bring inside, this can be an invaluable effect and you may find that plants in the site near your compost heap (or heaps) have better than expected growth.

Winter doesn’t have to mean the end to your plants. Whilst yes, some are bound by cycles, others can suffer in the cold. Make sure you know your garden like the back of your hand and help prepare it for the colder months.

Photos By Holt Saulsgiver.